Baggy and wide-leg jeans have had their moment this summer, but we don’t fancy dragging our hems through the rain-soaked streets of winter in the UK, so it’s time to re-think denim and consider more practical options for the new season approaching.
The beauty of denim is that it can be dyed and bleached, and switching up your old jeans with a DIY job can give them a new lease of life. We’ve chosen five denim trends that stood out on the runways – use them as inspiration to restyle pieces you already own or invest in a new season pair you’ll wear forever.
Raw Denim
Raw denim is denim in its purest form – meaning it hasn’t been pre-washed or treated during manufacturing. Raw denim feels more rigid and has a tighter fit, but should mould to your body and soften over time. Because it hasn’t been treated, the dark wash of raw denim jeans is perfect for an evening look, as the dark indigo colour gives a more clean and polished finish. For SS24, Dior showed raw denim worn with a matching longline jacket, while Loewe paired theirs with a sculptural metal top made from crystal-encrusted flowers. Dress up dark denim with a sheer or silk top and kitten heels, giving a new lease of life to ‘jeans and a nice top’.
Double Denim
Erase the image of 2001 Britney and Justin from your mind – double denim can look so good when it’s done right! The key this season is to wear separate pieces in contrasting shades to create a more tonal look. US influencer @chelseaasoflate showed us exactly how to work this trend as she appeared at a recent festival wearing a washed denim top with a pair of darker denim cargo jeans. Both Alexander McQueen and Valentino paired denim shorts with blazers as part of their recent ready-to-wear collections – recreate this transitional look now before the temperature drops.
'Interesting' Jeans
Beaded, dip-dyed, cuffed or pleated – this season, we like our denim with a little detail. Chloé showed patchwork jeans, while Diesel showcased the trend with distressed denim looks that included midi skirts and cropped jackets. McQueen used ankle-tie details on their bootcut jeans and paired them with pointed heels for a result heavily influenced by the noughties. Play with colours, cut-outs and textures; the key to this trend is to have fun, keep the rest of your look pared back and let your denim take centre stage.
Cropped Denim
This summer gave us the return of Capri trousers (eek!), whether this struck you with fear or nostalgia, it’s safe to say the trend was divisive. The evolution of this ankle-bearing movement for autumn/winter is cropped denim, which seems infinitely less scary than its skintight Lycra predecessor. Chanel and Andreas Kronthaler for Vivienne Westwood showed cropped jeans on their autumn/winter runways – demonstrating how to make them work in the colder months with knitwear, coats and boots. A pair of straight-leg crops with heeled boots and an oversized knit is a failsafe autumn outfit formula you can return to time and time again.
Skinny Jeans
Skinny jeans might be returning (cue a collective cheer from Millennials and sighs from everyone else). Miu Miu sent TWO pairs of low-rise, mid-wash, ankle-grazing skinny jeans down their AW24 runway; so we’re going to take this as a sign to blow the cobwebs off our favourite skinnies and enjoy autumn/winter like it’s 2014. Let’s face it, skinny jeans can instantly make an outfit look more elevated while still offering the casualness of denim…and you don’t need to worry about soaking up puddles, which is a definite bonus.
If you’ve had a House of Colour analysis and know your season, keep in mind that dark denim washes look great on Winters and Springs, Summers can opt for light blue washes, while warm rinses will complement Autumns.
Want to find out which denim styles and washes work best for you? Book a style and colour analysis with your local stylist!
